Jenny Michel, DNP, APRN-CNP, AC/PC, director of the Advanced Practice Provider Center and co-chair of the Provider Resilience Wellness Committee, has been awarded the Workforce Wellness honor from the Ohio Organization for Nursing Leadership (OONL).
The OONL serves as a catalyst for innovative health care in Ohio and the nation through expert nursing leadership. Each year, OONL holds an annual fall conference in Columbus. During the conference, three prestigious awards are given to providers in the categories of: aspiring nurse leader, OONL leadership and workforce wellness.
Nominated by Chris Young, chief nursing officer, Jenny also works in the emergency department and serves as vice chair of the credentials committee and chair of the APP credentials committee. The OONL award criteria includes outlining how a nominee promoted collaboration in practice, accountability to hospital culture, demonstration of visible leadership, shared decision making at various levels within the organization, encouragement of professional growth and recognition by staff for their contribution to the practice. Specifically, Chris shared Jenny’s leadership strategy to improve the workplace environment by promoting care of body, mind, and spirit of nursing professionals and supporting strategy and legislation to reduce and/or eliminate workplace violence and moral distress.
“Jenny is a collaborative leader, who leads change through influence,” said Chris.
Chris added that Jenny was integral to the implementation of the Well-Being Index app program and is an advocate and role model for clinicians to take advantage of the wellness programs offered through the hospital, such as Healing Breaths retreats and learning sessions.
“I am excited to be recognized for an award that is centered on workplace wellness.” said Jenny. “This is my first time receiving an award from OONL and my first for provider wellness initiatives. I find it important as a leader for staff to know that I truly care about their well-being, and I do my best to support them by sharing resources that help their personal and professional wellness,” said Jenny.
Reflecting on Akron Children’s wellness accomplishments and on receiving the award, Jenny Michel shares more below:
Reflecting on your career, when did wellness become a focus?
My entry into the wellness world was in January of 2022. I was asked to serve as the well-being index champion. I decided to use the well-being index as the focus for my quality improvement project and have continued to promote use of this tool following my QI project completion.
I started a well-being index steering committee with our medical staff president, Dr. Kerwyn Jones. The goal of the committee is to actively review, and address feedback obtained by automated reports that show trends or outcomes of wellness. With assistance from members on the well-being index committee, we engage medical staff leaders and department chairs to monitor physician and APPs distress levels over periods of time. This helps to recognize burnout and support provider resilience based on feedback from their providers.
By understanding outcomes of the well-being index report, prevention, and practical methods of how to work through stress may be offered for provider resilience. With Dr. Laura Pollauf, I co-chair the provider resilience committee. This team provides opportunities to support provider wellness through breathing and meditation, fitness, community service, leisure activities and more.
This award recognizes your achievements as a model example for others across Ohio. Locally, what do you feel it means for Akron Children’s?
I feel much joy in spreading knowledge of available programs and offerings to APPs throughout their well-being journey. If people hear my name, or see my face and say, “oh that’s the person who is always sending us reminders to take care of ourselves,” then I think I have been successful in promoting and supporting my fellow employees.
I have been fortunate to have caring, supportive mentors and leaders throughout my career that played a significant role in my ability to succeed. As a leader, I want people to know that you do not have to suffer alone or in silence. There are many programs and tools available for staff to use to support their wellness and if none of those tools are right for them, then reach out to me and let’s chat about what it is that you do need. I’ll do my best to get those tools and services at Akron Children’s to support their well-being.
